2017 Commencement

2017 Commencement

Friday, April 28, 2017 12:00pm

The Michigan Theater 603 East Liberty Street Ann Arbor, MI

Admission Information

Admission is free. Graduates will receive invitations and are requested to RSVP with the total number of guests attending no later than April 14, 2017. Please check your local home and permanent addresses in Wolverine Access to insure they are correct!

Information for Graduates

ACADEMIC ATTIRE
Graduates participating in any U-M commencement must wear academic attire (cap & gown). Such attire can be purchased at the Michigan Union Bookstore, on the ground floor of the Michigan Union, 530 South State Street (995-8877) or Ulrich’s Bookstore, 549 East University, (734) 662-3201. Contact the individual bookstores for specific information on graduation attire.

COMMENCEMENT DAY
Graduates - Please do not bring any valuables (purses, cell phones, cameras, etc.) to commencement. There is no safe place to store them during the ceremony!

ASSEMBLY
Graduates should assemble in cap & gown in the Michigan Theater, no later than 11:00 a.m. Upon arriving at the theater go directly to the registration tables in the lobby to pick up your name card and complete a card for the photographer. (You will hand these cards to the marshal and faculty reader on stage when receiving your recognition.) From there you will be directed to the screening room lobby to prepare for the processional line-up. For the procession, graduates will line up alphabetically. In the auditorium, graduates will sit alphabetically. Communication Studies staff will assist you in lining up for the procession and with seating. The procession into the auditorium will begin promptly at 12:00 noon.

Information for Families and Guests

The Michigan Theater will open to guests at 11:30 a.m. Tickets are not required except for guests with accessible seating needs (see below for additional information). Guests should enter through the front doors and be seated by 11:45 a.m. Guests are requested to remain seated throughout the program. At the end of the program, after the faculty and graduates have recessed into the lobby, guests are invited to join the commencement reception.

PHOTOGRAPHS
A professional photographer will take a color photo of each graduate after he or she is recognized on stage.
Graduates will receive a free color proof; there is no obligation to buy reprints. Family members are welcome to take photographs during the ceremony from their seats however guests may not stand in the aisle or along the walls or move to the front to take photographs. These areas must remain clear for emergency purposes. Guests will be asked to leave if they do not comply with this safety regulation. There will be ample time after the ceremony to take photographs of the graduates.

STUDENTS AND GUESTS WITH DISABILITIES
The University of Michigan wants to ensure that all graduates and guests can participate fully in commencement. Ushers will be available to assist in locating wheelchair-accessible seating and restrooms for guests. Please contact the Department of Communication Studies, comm.studies.dept@umich.edu, to arrange for tickets for accessible seating needs. All requests for special arrangements should be made by April 14, 2017.

Event Timeline

12:00pm
Commencement Ceremony begins promptly with procession of graduating students

1:15pm
Ceremony concludes

1:15pm - 2:00pm
Light reception for graduates and families

Parking

Parking, without permits, is available in all university parking structures on April 28. The UM parking structures on Thayer and Fletcher Streets are closest to the Michigan Theater and provide accessible parking for guests. Paid parking is available behind the Michigan Theater with an entrance on East Washington; and another lot across the street from the Michigan Theater has entrances on Maynard and Thompson Streets.